Chapter 33
Chapter Thirty-Three
PATRICK
This show was so good. I had spent the rest of the day binge watching it, the only reason I stopped was because I had started to fall asleep on my couch. I wasn’t that old but I couldn’t sleep in not a bed for a second night and expect to not be in crazy pain when tomorrow comes.
I check my phone as I make my way to my bedroom.
Mabel W: Dang Patrick, didn’t know you had it in you. Elle totally has a crush on you. Keep up the effort!
She told her sisters? She told her sisters and Mabel was encouraging me to keep trying? This was good… Right?
I wish I wouldn’t have looked, I should have just gone to bed.
Me: Thanks…Is she okay?
Mabel W: She’s nervous but she liiiiikes you.
Me: I like her too.
Mabel W: Yeah you do!
Did I really just text that?? I shouldn’t have texted that. What if Mabel tells Elle? That’s not the way I wanted Elle to find out. God, I hoped she at least had some idea after our night together.
A part of me doesn’t really believe Mabel saying that Elle likes me too. Why would Elle feel anything but annoyance and some sexual attraction. I was more than attracted to Elle but that wasn’t all it was for me. Elle had so much more than the grumpiness she was famous for.
She was so protective of her family and smart as hell.
She may think she was too much but she was just right for me.
The real question is why she would have any interest in me?
I was an overly excited orphan who can’t stay in one place for too long to make any real connections.
She probably—correctly—saw me as an unreliable spaz who was easy on the eyes and not much more.
These thoughts aren’t productive and I needed to stop them. I plug my phone into its charger and climb into bed.
I tossed and turned for an hour, unable to get comfortable. This was ridiculous, I couldn’t really be missing sleeping on that tiny pull out couch. I take a deep breath and readjust my pillows, punching it a few times and flipping it over to get the cool side.
I let my thoughts drift back to cuddling with Elle on that pull out, remembering the sounds she made while she slept.
With those sweet memories, I slowly slip into an untethered sleep.
Sunday morning comes and I have no plans outside of watching more of Elle’s comfort show, try not to think about Elle spread out on her desk, and keep myself from texting Mabel for Elle’s phone number.
Oh, and I will probably eat something too.
I got through a season and a half yesterday and I’m going to attempt to finish two more today.
I’ve just hit play when my phone goes off, notifying me I got a text.
I debate leaving the phone be, intent on ignoring the world and enjoying this show, when it goes off again.
With a sigh, I grab my phone and check my notifications.
I can’t stop the surprise look that paints my face as I read the message that came through.
Unknown Number: This is Elle’s phone but this is Mabel. She made a comment that she didn’t have your number for some reason.
The second text is a picture of the Warren sisters together wearing jerseys for the new Utah NHL team.
Lola and Mabel have matching wide smiles but Elle’s face is where my eyes instinctively go to.
She’s not smiling but there is a faint tilt to the corner of her mouth that gives away that she's enjoying this time with her sisters.
I can feel a smile pulling at my lips as I type out a reply
Me: Love the pic. Is Elle okay with you giving her number out?